om this time he never again admitted the name by
which he had been so familiarly known, and in which, to tell the
truth, he had rejoiced. The love of titles is common to all men,
and a vicar or fellow is as pleased at becoming Mr Archdeacon or
Mr Provost, as a lieutenant at getting his captaincy, or a city
tallow-chandler in becoming Sir John on the occasion of a Queen's
visit to a new bridge. But warden he was no longer, and the name of
precentor, though the office was to him so dear, confers in itself
no sufficient distinction; our friend, therefore, again became Mr
Harding.

Mrs Grantly had gone out; he had, therefore, no one to delay him by
further entreaties to postpone his journey; he had soon arranged his
bag, and paid his bill, and, leaving a note for his daughter, in which
he put the copy of his official letter, he got into a cab and drove
away to the station with something of triumph in his heart.

Had he not cause for triumph? Had he not been supremely successful?
Had he not for the first time in his life held his own purpose
against that of his son-in-law, and manfully combated against great
odds,--against the archdeacon's wife as well as the archdeacon? Had
he not gained a great victory, and was it not fit that he should step
into his cab with triumph?

He had not told Eleanor when he would return, but she was on the
look-out for him by every train by which he could arrive, and the
pony-carriage was at the Barchester station when the train drew up
at the platform.

"My dear," said he, sitting beside her, as she steered her little
vessel to one side of the road to make room for the clattering omnibus
as they passed from the station into the town, "I hope you'll be able
to feel a proper degree of respect for the vicar of Crabtree."

"Dear papa," said she, "I am so glad."

There was great comfort in returning home to that pleasant house,
though he was to leave it so soon, and in discussing with his daughter
all that he had done, and all that he had to do. It must take some
time to get out of one house into another; the curate at Crabtree
could not be abolished under six months, that is, unless other
provision could be made for him; and then the furniture:--the most of
that must be sold to pay Sir Abraham Haphazard for sitting up till
twelve at night. Mr Harding was strangely ignorant as to lawyers'
bills; he had no idea, from twenty pounds to two thousand, as to the
sum in which he was indebted f